Mugshot Jackpot

[Mulboyne]

AFP: Jackpot! Catch a criminal with new Japanese game
A Japanese firm said Wednesday it would launch an Internet-based slot machine game using mug shots of criminal suspects on the country's wanted list. Famista Inc. will start the free game as a way of publicising the photographs of suspects, drawing on the popularity of "pachinko" pinball, company official Takashi Saito told AFP. Players who hit the jackpot will be shown detailed information about the suspect and how to report any leads in their cases. "We thought this can be a new way to contribute to the community," he said. "There are many Internet sites that display photos of those on the wanted list, but they are not necessarily visited frequently. By mixing it with entertainment, we thought we can make some contribution to the police efforts"...Saito said Internet users will be able to access the online game via their computers or mobile phones from Friday...more...

[dimwit]

Well they are shooting for the right audience. One might wonder whether the average pachinko-sad is likely to notice anything or anyone around them. If I were Ichibashi, I would think a pachinko parlour would be an ideal place to hide.

[Taro Toporific]

Hawker parents protest against "distasteful" game
inthenews.co.uk ^ Saturday, 15 Nov 2008 11:52
The parents of murdered British teacher Lindsay Hawker have expressed anger over the use of the image of their daughter's suspected killer, Tatsuya Ichihashi, in a videogame.
A Japanese company, Famista, is set to release a game which will show the mugshots of some of Japan's most wanted criminals in the hope of helping police catch suspects....
....Speaking about the game, Lindsay's mother, Julia Hawker, said she had not been consulted by the makers of the game, adding that she had asked the Japanese police questions about the game through the foreign and commonwealth office.
She told Sky News: "I also want to know if this is a commercial venture, as if it is, then it is in extremely poor taste. The whole thing is distasteful and not befitting Lindsay's memory. To make an entertainment game out of her murder is really hurtful to us as a family." ...more...